Stabilizing styrenic polymer for quantum dots

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a composite particle that includes: a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal); and a stabilizing homo-copolymer combined with the core/shell nanoparticle, the stabilizing (co)polymer comprising styrene monomer units and functionalized with phosphine, arsine or stibine groups.

BACKGROUND

Quantum Dot Enhancement Films (QDEF) are used as part of the backlight for LCD displays. Red and green quantum dots in the film down-convert light from the blue LED source to give white light. This has the advantage of improving the color gamut over the typical LCD display and decreasing the energy consumption

Colloidal quantum dot nanoparticles (preferably, nanocrystals) are stabilized with organic ligands and/or additives to maintain dispersion stability in a carrier fluid (or solvent). Quantum dot ligands also improve photoluminescent quantum yields by passivating surface traps, stabilize against aggregation and degradation, and influence the kinetics of nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal) growth during synthesis. Therefore, optimizing the organic ligand and/or additive is important for achieving optimal quantum yield, processability, and functional lifetime in QDEF.

SUMMARY

Composite particles are provided that are capable of fluorescence and suitable for use in quantum dot enhancement films.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a composite particle that includes: a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal); and a stabilizing homo- or copolymer combined with the core/shell nanoparticle, the stabilizing (co)polymer comprising styrene monomer units and functionalized with phosphine, arsine or stibine groups.

In one embodiment the stabilizing copolymer is of the formula:

wherein each R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group including alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; each R³ is a hydrocarbyl group including alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; each R⁶ is H, a hydrocarbyl group or a functional group; R⁷ is a divalent hydrocarbyl group selected from alkylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene; R⁸ is the residue of an initiator, which may be functional or non-functional; Z is P, As or Sb; subscript a is 1 to 100, preferably 10-100; subscript b is 0 to 100, and may be 1-100.

With respect to R⁸, the residue of an initiator is that portion which initiates polymerization and is covalently bonded to the (co)polymer. For example, when using butyllithium, R⁸ is a butyl group. The “Z” group may be o-, m-, or p- and is preferably p-.

In one embodiment, the stabilizing (co)polymer is of the formula:

wherein each R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group including alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; each R² is a hydrocarbyl group including alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; each R³ is a hydrocarbyl group including alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; each R⁴ is an alkyl or vinyl group; each R⁵ is a hydrocarbyl group or a functional group; R⁷ is a divalent hydrocarbyl group selected from alkylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene, R⁸ is the residue of an initiator, which may be functional or non-functional; Z is P, As or Sb; subscript a is 1 to 20; subscript b is 0 to 100, and may be 1-100; subscript c is 0 to 1000; and subscript d is 0 to 1000, with the proviso that c+d is at least one and preferably 100-400.

With respect to R⁸, the residue of an initiator is that portion which initiates polymerization and is covalently bonded to the (co)polymer. For example, when using butyllithium, R⁸ is a butyl group. The “Z” group may be o-, m-, or p- and is preferably p-.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a composite particle that includes: a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal); and a stabilizing (co)polymer of Formulas I or II.

In a preferred embodiment, the fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle includes: an InP core; an inner shell overcoating the core, wherein the inner shell includes zinc selenide and zinc sulfide; and an outer shell overcoating the inner shell, wherein the outer shell includes zinc sulfide.

As used herein

“Alkyl” means a linear or branched, cyclic or acylic, saturated monovalent hydrocarbon.

“Alkylene” means a linear or branched unsaturated divalent hydrocarbon.

“Alkenyl” means a linear or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon.

“Aryl” means a monovalent aromatic, such as phenyl, naphthyl and the like.

“Arylene” means a polyvalent, aromatic, such as phenylene, naphthalene, and the like.

“Aralkylene” means a group defined above with an aryl group attached to the alkylene, e.g., benzyl, 1-naphthylethyl, and the like.

As used herein, “(hetero)hydrocarbyl” is inclusive of hydrocarbyl alkyl, aryl, aralkyl and alkaryl groups, and heterohydrocarbyl heteroalkyl and heteroaryl groups, the later comprising one or more catenary (in-chain) heteroatoms such as ether or amino groups. Heterohydrocarbyl may optionally contain one or more catenary (in-chain) functional groups including ester, amide, urea, urethane, and carbonate functional groups. Unless otherwise indicated, the non-polymeric (hetero)hydrocarbyl groups typically contain from 1 to 60 carbon atoms. Some examples of such heterohydrocarbyls as used herein include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 4-diphenylaminobutyl, 2-(2′-phenoxyethoxy)ethyl, 3,6-dioxaheptyl, 3,6-dioxahexyl-6-phenyl, in addition to those described for “alkyl”, “heteroalkyl”, and “aryl” supra.

The term “composite particle” as used herein refers to a nanoparticle, which is typically in the form of a core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal), having any associated organic coating or other material on the surface of the nanoparticle that is not removed from the surface by ordinary solvation. Such composite particles are useful as “quantum dots,” which have a tunable emission in the near ultraviolet (UV) to far infrared (IR) range as a result of the use of a semiconductor material.

The term “nanoparticle” refers to a particle having an average particle diameter in the range of 0.1 to 1000 nanometers such as in the range of 0.1 to 100 nanometers or in the range of 1 to 100 nanometers. The term “diameter” refers not only to the diameter of substantially spherical particles but also to the distance along the smallest axis of the structure. Suitable techniques for measuring the average particle diameter include, for example, scanning tunneling microscopy, light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy.

A “core” of a nanoparticle is understood to mean a nanoparticle (preferably, a nanocrystal) to which no shell has been applied or to the inner portion of a core/shell nanoparticle. A core of a nanoparticle can have a homogenous composition or its composition can vary with depth inside the core. Many materials are known and used in core nanoparticles, and many methods are known in the art for applying one or more shells to a core nanoparticle. The core has a different composition than the one more shells. The core typically has a different chemical composition than the shell of the core/shell nanoparticle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of an edge region of an illustrative film article including quantum dots.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an illustrative method of forming a quantum dot film.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a display including a quantum dot article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides composite particles that contain fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles that can fluoresce when excited with actinic radiation. The composite particles can be used in coatings and films for use in optical displays.

Fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles emit a fluorescence signal when suitably excited. They fluoresce at a second wavelength of actinic radiation when excited by a first wavelength of actinic radiation that is shorter than the second wavelength. In some embodiments, the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles can fluoresce in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum when exposed to wavelengths of light in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In other embodiments, the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles can fluoresce in the infrared region when excited in the ultraviolet or visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. In still other embodiments, the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles can fluoresce in the ultraviolet region when excited in the ultraviolet region by a shorter wavelength of light, can fluoresce in the visible region when excited by a shorter wavelength of light in the visible region, or can fluoresce in the infrared region when excited by a shorter wavelength of light in the infrared region. The fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles are often capable of fluorescing in a wavelength range such as, for example, at a wavelength up to 1200 nanometers (nm), or up to 1000 nm, up to 900 nm, or up to 800 nm. For example, the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles are often capable of fluorescence in the range of 400 to 800 nanometers.

The nanoparticles have an average particle diameter of at least 0.1 nanometer (nm), or at least 0.5 nm, or at least 1 nm. The nanoparticles have an average particle diameter of up to 1000 nm, or up to 500 nm, or up to 200 nm, or up to 100 nm, or up to 50 nm, or up to 20 nm, or up to 10 nm. Semiconductor nanoparticles, particularly with sizes on the scale of 1-10 nm, have emerged as a category of the most promising advanced materials for cutting-edge technologies.

Semiconductor materials include elements or complexes of Group 2-Group 16, Group 12-Group 16, Group 13-Group 15, Group 14-Group 16, and Group 14 semiconductors of the Periodic Table (using the modern group numbering system of 1-18). Some suitable quantum dots include a metal phosphide, a metal selenide, a metal telluride, or a metal sulfide. Exemplary semiconductor materials include, but are not limited to, Si, Ge, Sn, BN, BP, BAs, AlN, AlP, AlAs, AlSb, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InN, InP, lnAs, InSb, AlN, AlP, AlAs, AlSb, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, ZnO, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, BeS, BeSe, BeTe, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, GeS, GeSe, GeTe, SnS, SnSe, SnTe, PbO, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, CuF, CuCl, CuBr, CuI, Si₃N₄, Ge₃N₄, Al₂O₃, (Ga,In)₂(S,Se,Te)₃, Al₂CO, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, and an appropriate combination of two or more such semiconductors. These semiconductor materials can be used for the core, the one or more shell layers, or both.

In certain embodiments, exemplary metal phosphide quantum dots include indium phosphide and gallium phosphide, exemplary metal selenide quantum dots include cadmium selenide, lead selenide, and zinc selenide, exemplary metal sulfide quantum dots include cadmium sulfide, lead sulfide, and zinc sulfide, and exemplary metal telluride quantum dots include cadmium telluride, lead telluride, and zinc telluride. Other suitable quantum dots include gallium arsenide and indium gallium phosphide. Exemplary semiconductor materials are commercially available from Evident Thermoelectrics (Troy, N.Y.), and from Nanosys Inc., Milpitas, Calif.

Nanocrystals (or other nanostructures) for use in the present invention can be produced using any method known to those skilled in the art. Suitable methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,206 (Whiteford, incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. The nanocrystals (or other nanostructures) for use in the present invention can be produced from any suitable material, suitably an inorganic material, and more suitably an inorganic conductive or semiconductive material. Suitable semiconductor materials include those disclosed in and include any type of semiconductor, including group 12-16, group 13-15, group 14-16 and group 14 semiconductors.

Suitable semiconductor materials include, but are not limited to, Si, Ge, Sn, Se, Te, B, C (including diamond), P, BN, BP, BAs, AlP, AlAs, AlSb, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InN, InP, InAs, InSb, AlN, AlP, ZnO, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, BeS, BeSe, BeTe, MgS, MgSe, GeS, GeSe, GeTe, SnS, SnSe, SnTe, PbO, PbS, Pb Se, PbTe, CuF, CuCl, CuBr, CuI, Si₃N₄, Ge₃N₄, Al₂O₃, (Ga, In)₂(S, Se, Te)₃, Al₂CO, and an appropriate combination of two or more such semiconductors.

In certain aspects, the semiconductor nanocrystals or other nanostructures may comprise a dopant from the group consisting of: a p-type dopant or an n-type dopant. The nanocrystals (or other nanostructures) useful in the present invention can also comprise Group 12-Group 16 or Group 13-Group 15 semiconductors. Examples of Group 12-Group 16 or Group 13-Group 15 semiconductor nanocrystals and nanostructures include any combination of an element from Group 12, such as Zn, Cd and Hg, with any element from Group 16, such as S, Se, Te, Po, of the Periodic Table; and any combination of an element from Group 13, such as B, Al, Ga, In, and Tl, with any element from Group 15, such as N, P, As, Sb and Bi, of the Periodic Table.

Other suitable inorganic nanostructures include metal nanostructures. Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, Ru, Pd, Pt, Ni, W, Ta, Co, Mo, Ir, Re, Rh, Hf, Nb, Au, Ag, Ti, Sn, Zn, Fe, and the like.

While any known method can be used to create nanocrystal phosphors, suitably, a solution-phase colloidal method for controlled growth of inorganic nanomaterial phosphors is used. See Alivisatos, A. P., “Semiconductor clusters, nanocrystals, and quantum dots,” Science 271:933 (1996); X. Peng, M. Schlamp, A. Kadavanich, A. P. Alivisatos, “Epitaxial growth of highly luminescent CdSe/CdS Core/Shell nanocrystals with photostability and electronic accessibility,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 30:7019-7029 (1997); and C. B. Murray, D. J. Norris, M. G. Bawendi, “Synthesis and characterization of nearly monodisperse CdE (E=sulfur, selenium, tellurium) semiconductor nanocrystallites,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115:8706 (1993). This manufacturing process technology leverages low cost processability without the need for clean rooms and expensive manufacturing equipment. In these methods, metal precursors that undergo pyrolysis at high temperature are rapidly injected into a hot solution of organic surfactant molecules. These precursors break apart at elevated temperatures and react to nucleate nanocrystals. After this initial nucleation phase, a growth phase begins by the addition of monomers to the growing crystal. The result is freestanding crystalline nanoparticles in solution that have an organic surfactant molecule coating their surface.

Utilizing this approach, synthesis occurs as an initial nucleation event that takes place over seconds, followed by crystal growth at elevated temperature for several minutes. Parameters such as the temperature, types of surfactants present, precursor materials, and ratios of surfactants to monomers can be modified so as to change the nature and progress of the reaction. The temperature controls the structural phase of the nucleation event, rate of decomposition of precursors, and rate of growth. The organic surfactant molecules mediate both solubility and control of the nanocrystal shape.

In semiconductor nanocrystals, photo-induced emission arises from the band edge states of the nanocrystal. The band-edge emission from nanocrystals competes with radiative and non-radiative decay channels originating from surface electronic states. X. Peng, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 30:7019-7029 (1997). As a result, the presence of surface defects such as dangling bonds provide non-radiative recombination centers and contribute to lowered emission efficiency. An efficient and permanent method to passivate and remove the surface trap states is to epitaxially grow an inorganic shell material on the surface of the nanocrystal. X. Peng, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 30:7019-7029 (1997). The shell material can be chosen such that the electronic levels are type I with respect to the core material (e.g., with a larger bandgap to provide a potential step localizing the electron and hole to the core). As a result, the probability of non-radiative recombination can be reduced.

Core-shell structures are obtained by adding organometallic precursors containing the shell materials to a reaction mixture containing the core nanocrystal. In this case, rather than a nucleation-event followed by growth, the cores act as the nuclei, and the shells grow from their surface. The temperature of the reaction is kept low to favor the addition of shell material monomers to the core surface, while preventing independent nucleation of nanocrystals of the shell materials. Surfactants in the reaction mixture are present to direct the controlled growth of shell material and ensure solubility. A uniform and epitaxially grown shell is obtained when there is a low lattice mismatch between the two materials. Additionally, the spherical shape acts to minimize interfacial strain energy from the large radius of curvature, thereby preventing the formation of dislocations that could degrade the optical properties of the nanocrystal system.

In suitable embodiments, ZnS can be used as the shell material using known synthetic processes, resulting in a high-quality emission. As above, if necessary, this material can be easily substituted, e.g., if the core material is modified. Additional exemplary core and shell materials are described herein and/or known in the art.

For many applications of quantum dots, two factors are typically considered in selecting a material. The first factor is the ability to absorb and emit visible light. This consideration makes InP a highly desirable base material. The second factor is the material's photoluminescence efficiency (quantum yield). Generally, Group 12-16 quantum dots (such as cadmium selenide) have higher quantum yield than Group 13-15 quantum dots (such as InP). The quantum yield of InP cores produced previously has been very low (<1%), and therefore the production of a core/shell structure with InP as the core and another semiconductor compound with higher bandgap (e.g., ZnS) as the shell has been pursued in attempts to improve the quantum yield.

Thus, the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles (i.e., quantum dots) of the present disclosure include a core and a shell at least partially surrounding the core. The core/shell nanoparticles can have two distinct layers, a semiconductor or metallic core and a shell surrounding the core of an insulating or semiconductor material. The core often contains a first semiconductor material and the shell often contains a second semiconductor material that is different than the first semiconductor material. For example, a first Group 12-16 (e.g., CdSe) semiconductor material can be present in the core and a second Group 12-16 (e.g., ZnS) semiconductor material can be present in the shell.

In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the core includes a metal phosphide (e.g., indium phosphide (InP), gallium phosphide (GaP), aluminum phosphide (AlP)), a metal selenide (e.g., cadmium selenide (CdSe), zinc selenide (ZnSe), magnesium selenide (MgSe)), or a metal telluride (e.g., cadmium telluride (CdTe), zinc telluride (ZnTe)). In certain embodiments, the core includes a metal phosphide (e.g., indium phosphide) or a metal selenide (e.g., cadmium selenide). In certain preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, the core includes a metal phosphide (e.g., indium phosphide).

The shell can be a single layer or multilayered. In some embodiments, the shell is a multilayered shell. The shell can include any of the core materials described herein. In certain embodiments, the shell material can be a semiconductor material having a higher bandgap energy than the semiconductor core. In other embodiments, suitable shell materials can have good conduction and valence band offset with respect to the semiconductor core, and in some embodiments, the conduction band can be higher and the valence band can be lower than those of the core. For example, in certain embodiments, semiconductor cores that emit energy in the visible region such as, for example, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, ZnSe, ZnTe, GaP, InP, or GaAs, or near IR region such as, for example, InP, InAs, InSb, PbS, or PbSe may be coated with a shell material having a bandgap energy in the ultraviolet regions such as, for example, ZnS, GaN, and magnesium chalcogenides such as MgS, MgSe, and MgTe. In other embodiments, semiconductor cores that emit in the near IR region can be coated with a material having a bandgap energy in the visible region such as CdS or ZnSe.

Formation of the core/shell nanoparticles may be carried out by a variety of methods. Suitable core and shell precursors useful for preparing semiconductor cores are known in the art and can include Group 2 elements, Group 12 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, Group 16 elements, and salt forms thereof. For example, a first precursor may include metal salt (M+X−) including a metal atom (M+) such as, for example, Zn, Cd, Hg, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ga, In, Al, Pb, Ge, Si, or in salts and a counter ion (X−), or organometallic species such as, for example, dialkyl metal complexes. The preparation of a coated semiconductor nanocrystal core and core/shell nanocrystals can be found in, for example, Dabbousi et al. (1997) J. Phys. Chem. B 101:9463, Hines et al. (1996) J. Phys. Chem. 100: 468-471, and Peng et al. (1997) J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 119:7019-7029, as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 8,283,412 (Liu et al.) and International Publication No. WO 2010/039897 (Tulsky et al.).

In certain preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, the shell includes a metal sulfide (e.g., zinc sulfide or cadmium sulfide). In certain embodiments, the shell includes a zinc-containing compound (e.g., zinc sulfide or zinc selenide). In certain embodiments, a multilayered shell includes an inner shell overcoating the core, wherein the inner shell includes zinc selenide and zinc sulfide. In certain embodiments, a multilayered shell includes an outer shell overcoating the inner shell, wherein the outer shell includes zinc sulfide.

In some embodiments, the core of the shell/core nanoparticle contains a metal phosphide such as indium phosphide, gallium phosphide, or aluminum phosphide. The shell contains zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, or a combination thereof. In some more particular embodiments, the core contains indium phosphide and the shell is multilayered with the inner shell containing both zinc selenide and zinc sulfide and the outer shell containing zinc sulfide.

The thickness of the shell(s) may vary among embodiments and can affect fluorescence wavelength, quantum yield, fluorescence stability, and other photostability characteristics of the nanocrystal. The skilled artisan can select the appropriate thickness to achieve desired properties and may modify the method of making the core/shell nanoparticles to achieve the appropriate thickness of the shell(s).

The diameter of the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles (i.e., quantum dots) of the present disclosure can affect the fluorescence wavelength. The diameter of the quantum dot is often directly related to the fluorescence wavelength. For example, cadmium selenide quantum dots having an average particle diameter of about 2 to 3 nanometers tend to fluoresce in the blue or green regions of the visible spectrum while cadmium selenide quantum dots having an average particle diameter of about 8 to 10 nanometers tend to fluoresce in the red region of the visible spectrum.

Since carboxylic acids are often used as surfactants in the synthesis of InP/ZnS core/shell particles, the quantum dots may have acid functional ligands attached thereto, prior to dispersing in the stabilizing agent. Similarly, CdSe quantum dots may be functionalized with amine-functional ligands as result of their preparation. As result, the quantum dots may be functionalized with those surface modifying additives or ligands resulting from the original synthesis of the nanoparticles.

As result, the quantum dots may be surface modified with ligands of Formula III: R¹⁵—R¹²(X)_(n)  III wherein R¹⁵ is (hetero)hydrocarbyl group having C₂ to C₃₀ carbon atoms; R¹² is a hydrocarbyl group including alkylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene; n is at least one; X is a ligand group, including —CO₂H, —SO₃H, —P(O)(OH)₂, —OP(O)(OH), —OH and —NH₂.

Such additional surface modifying ligands may be added when the functionalizing with the stabilizing agent of Formula I, or may be attached to the nanoparticles as result of the synthesis. Such additional surface modifying agents are present in amounts less than or equal to the weight of the instant stabilizing copolymer, preferably 10 wt. % or less, relative to the amount of the stabilizing agent.

Various methods can be used to surface modify the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles with the ligand compounds. In some embodiments, procedures similar to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,613 (Bawendi et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,283,412 (Liu et al.) can be used to add the surface modifying agent. For example, the ligand compound and the fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles can be heated at an elevated temperature (e.g., at least 50° C., at least 60° C., at least 80° C., or at least 90° C.) for an extended period of time (e.g., at least 1 hour, at least 5 hours, at least 10 hours, at least 15 hours, or at least 20 hours).

If desired, any by-product of the synthesis process or any solvent used in surface-modification process can be removed, for example, by distillation, rotary evaporation, or by precipitation of the nanoparticles and centrifugation of the mixture followed by decanting the liquid and leaving behind the surface-modified nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the surface-modified fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles are dried to a powder after surface-modification. In other embodiments, the solvent used for the surface modification is compatible (i.e., miscible) with any carrier fluids used in compositions in which the nanoparticles are included. In these embodiments, at least a portion of the solvent used for the surface-modification reaction can be included in the carrier fluid in which the surface-modified, fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles are dispersed.

Suitable solvents or carrier fluids include, but are not limited to, aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., toluene, benzene, or xylene), aliphatic hydrocarbons such as alkanes (e.g., cyclohexane, heptane, hexane, or octane), alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, or butanol), ketones (e.g., acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, or cyclohexanone), aldehydes, amines, amides, esters (e.g., amyl acetate, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, or methoxypropyl acetate), glycols (e.g., ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, heylene glycol, or glycol ethers such as those commercially available from Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich. under the trade designation DOWANOL), ethers (e.g., diethyl ether), dimethyl sulfoxide, tetramethylsulfone, halocarbons (e.g., methylene chloride, chloroform, or hydrofluoroethers), or combinations thereof.

The stabilizing agent improves the stability of the quantum dots for their use in quantum dot articles. In particular, the instant stabilizing agent renders the quantum dots stable in the dispersion of carrier fluids, droplets of which are dispersed in the polymeric matrix. The combination of the stabilizing agents with the quantum dots may prevent the quantum dot particles from photodegradation.

Stabilizing copolymers may be prepared by anionic polymerization of a vinyl aromatic monomer and a cyclic siloxane to form a living polymer. Such monomers include vinyl aromatic compounds such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, vinyltoluene, tert-butylstyrene, methoxystyrene, trimethylsilylstyrene and its isomers. Living polymers are conveniently prepared by contacting the monomers with an alkali metal hydrocarbon or alkoxide salt in the presence of an inert organic diluent. Desirably, the monomers may be added sequentially to produce a styrene-silicone block copolymer.

When the block copolymers are prepared using living anionic polymerization techniques, the simplified structure A-M can represent the living A block where M is propagating anionic fragment. The A block is the polymerization product of a first monomer composition that includes “Z” functional styrene monomers. A second monomer composition that includes the monomers used to form the B block (e.g., the second monomer composition can include cyclic siloxane monomers can be added to A-M resulting in the formation of the living diblock structure A-B-M. The addition of another charge of the first monomer composition, which includes monomers according to Formula I, and the subsequent elimination of the living anion site can result in the formation of triblock structure A-B-A.

The initiators for anionic polymerization may be any of the alkali metal hydrocarbons or alkoxide salts which produce a mono-functional living polymer, i.e., only one end of the polymer contains a reactive ion. Such initiators include the hydrocarbons of lithium, sodium or potassium, for example, containing a carbon-centered anion and comprised of up to 20 carbon atoms or more, and preferably up to 8 carbon atoms. Illustrative alkali metal hydrocarbons include ethylsodium, propylsodium, butylpotassium, octylpotassium, benzylpotassium, benzylsodium, phenylsodium, ethyllithium, butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, isobutyllithium, tert-butyllithium and 2-ethylhexyllithium. Sec-butyllithium is the preferred initiator.

Functional anionic initiators may be used. One such initiator is p-(bis-trimethylsilylamino)phenyl lithium. U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,058 (Shephard) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,663 (Bening) describe functional initiators having the structure R³¹ R³² R³³ Si—O-A′-Li is described in wherein R³¹, R³², and R³³ are preferably alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, or alkaryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and A′ is preferably a branched or straight chain bridging group having at least 2 carbon atoms. R¹, R², and R³ are preferably not all CH₃. The bridging group (A) is most preferably a straight chain alkyl having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms.

Further reference may be made to initiator systems disclosed in the following references: Jagur-Grodzinski, J. (2002), Functional polymers by living anionic polymerization. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem., 40: 2116-2133. doi:10.1002/pola.10291, H. L. Hsieh, R. P, Quirk, “Anionic Polymerization, principles and practical applications” Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1996; R. P. Quirk, S. H. Jang, Recent advances in anionic synthesis of functionalized elastomers using functionalized alkylithium initiators, Rubb. Chem. Thechnol., 1996, 69(3), 444-461; Y. S. Yu, R. Jerome, R. Faft, Ph. Teyssié, “Efficiency of the sec-Butyllithium/m-Diisopropenylbenzene Diadduct as an Anionic Polymerization initiator in Apolar Solvents”, Macromolecules, 1994, 27, 5957-5963; F. Bandermann, H. D. Speikamp, L. Weigel, “Bifunctional anionic initiators: A critical study and overview”, Makromoi. Chem. 1985, 186, 2017-2024; and Rachid Matmour, Arvind S. More, Prakash P. Wadgaonkar, and Yves Gnanou, “High performance poly(styrene-b-diene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers from a hydrocarbon-soluble and additive-free dicarbanionic initiator”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128(25), 8158-8159. U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,005, issued Jul. 12, 1994, and entitled “Soluble Anionic Polymerization Initiators and Preparation Thereof,” discloses mono lithio amine initiators.

The amount of initiator usually dictates the molecular weight of the living polymer. If a small portion of initiator is used, with respect to the amount of monomer, the molecular weight of the living polymer will generally be larger than if a small proportion of initiator is used. Generally, the initiator concentration can vary from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mole of active alkali metal per mole of monomer, or higher.

The polymerization temperature used depends on the monomers being polymerized, solvent used, and on the type of polymerization technique practiced. For living anionic polymerization reactions, the temperature is often about −80° C. to about 40° C. In general, the polymerization reaction is carried out under controlled conditions so as to exclude substances that can destroy the initiator or living anion. Typically, the polymerization reaction is carried out in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen, argon, helium, or combinations thereof. When the reaction is a living anionic polymerization, anhydrous conditions may be necessary.

A living polymer chain prepared using anionic polymerization methods can be terminated in several ways to yield a functional group end-capped polymer. This reaction is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,059. The end-capping reaction is carried out, as in the case of the terminating reaction, by adding the capping reactant to the living polymer chain at the polymerization temperature. Depending on the intended consequence of the end-capping, either an excess or a stoichiometric equivalent relative to the amount of initiator may be used. In cases where polymer coupling is intended, reagent amounts should be exact as end capping reactions are preferred to occur on a mole basis. While many of the following reagents react to near completion, it is not necessary for all polymer chain ends to be functionalized for unique properties to be realized in bulk material.

In the technical literature, numerous examples of coupling agents are reported [H. L. Hsieh, Rubber Chem. And Tech., 1976, 49(5), 1305]. Addition of suitable electrophiles to the growing polymer chain will result in nucleophilic attack of the propagating anion. Examples of such electrophiles include carbon dioxide to yield a terminal carboxylic acid, organic imines to give terminal amines, small molecule aldehydes and ketones to give terminal alcohols. Similarly, bulky electrophiles containing a protected functional group, exemplified by the substituted diphenylethylene 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenylethylene, are commonly utilized in end-capping reactions. Organic small molecules containing halogen leaving groups (ie F, Cl, Br, I) may also be utilized for end-capping of polymer chains. Examples of such small molecules, in addition to their congener analogues, are para-chloromethylstyrene, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-(3-chloropropyl)-1-aza-2,5-disilacyclopentane and 1-bromo-3-(tert-butyldimethyl)siloxylpropane. Ring opening of strained cyclic organics is also commonly utilized for polymer chain end-capping with concurrent functionalization. Ethylene oxide, substituted epoxides, thiiranes, six-membered siloxanes, aziridine, substituted aziridines, and sultones are examples of some of the many strained cyclics that have been used for this purpose.

In addition to functional group installation, coupling of polymer chains is also commonly achieved with end-capping reagents. These coupling agents are generally of the form R¹ ₀₋₂R² ₀₋₂AX₂₋₄, where A is a main group atom, X is some halogen, R¹ and R² are alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl groups. The R substituents may possess functionality, such as dichlorovinylmethylsilane. Di-, tri- and tetra-halogenated organosilanes, dibromoxylenes, and dibromomethane are unfunctionalized coupling agents regularly used to give polymer chains with or without branching.

The nature of the propagating anion determines what end-capping reagent may be used. One skilled in the art recognizes the inherent reactivity differences between carbon-centered anions and anions centered on other main-group elements. As such, some less reactive end-capping reagents will react with a polymer chain in which the propagating anion is carbon based, while less reactive reagents will fail to terminate, for example the case of poly(ethyleneoxide), an oxygen-centered anion. In yet a more specific example an end-capping agent that yields a methacrylate functional group of the polymer terminus, 3-(dimethyl)iodosilyl-1-propylmethacrylate, will cleanly terminate an oxygen-centered anion but will engage in alternate reactivity with carbon centered anions like the case of polystyrene. Halosilanes are commonly use to terminate oxygen-centered anions. For example, oxanions may be terminated with an iodosilane or iodosiloxane such as iodotrimethylsilane or hexamethyldisiloxane to provide a trimethyl silyl terminal groups. The living anions may be terminated with an aminoalkyl dimethyl iododisiloxane or aminoalkyl dimethyl iodosilane to provide an alkylamino terminal groups. Chlorovinyldimethylsilane may be used to provide a terminal vinylsilane group.

The stabilized fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles may be dispersed in a solution, suspension or dispersion that contains (a) an optional carrier fluid and (b) a polymeric binder, a precursor of the polymeric binder, or combinations thereof. The stabilized nanoparticles may be dispersed in the optional carrier fluid, which is then dispersed in the polymeric binder, forming droplets of the nanoparticles in the secondary carrier fluid, which in turn are dispersed in the polymeric binder.

The polymeric binders desirably provide barrier properties to exclude oxygen and moisture. If water and/or oxygen enter the quantum dot article, the quantum dots can degrade and ultimately fail to emit light when excited by ultraviolet or blue light irradiation. Slowing or eliminating quantum dot degradation along the laminate edges is particularly important to extend the service life of the displays in smaller electronic devices such as those utilized in, for example, handheld devices and tablets.

The polymeric binders or resins desirably provide barrier properties to exclude oxygen and moisture when cured. If water and/or oxygen enter the quantum dot article, the quantum dots can degrade and ultimately fail to emit light when excited by ultraviolet or blue light irradiation. Slowing or eliminating quantum dot degradation along the laminate edges is particularly important to extend the service life of the displays in smaller electronic devices such as those utilized in, for example, handheld devices and tablets.

Exemplary polymeric binders include, but are not limited to, polysiloxanes, fluoroelastomers, polyamides, polyimides, polycarolactones, polycaprolactams, polyurethanes, polyethers, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides, and polymethacrylamides, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable precursors of the polymeric binder or resin include any precursor materials used to prepare the polymeric materials listed above. Exemplary precursor materials include acrylates that can be polymerized to polyacrylates, methacrylates that can be polymerized to form polymethacrylates, acrylamides that can be polymerized to form polyacrylamides, methacrylamides that can be polymerized to form polymethacrylamides, epoxy resins and dicarboxylic acids that can be polymerized to form polyesters, diepoxides that can be polymerized to form polyethers, isocyanates and polyols that can be polymerized to form polyurethanes, or polyols and dicarboxylic acids that can be polymerized to form polyesters.

In some embodiments, such as CdSe, the polymeric binder is a thermally curable epoxy-amine composition optionally further comprising a radiation-curable acrylate as described in Applicant's copending WO 2015/095296 (Eckert et al.); Thiol-epoxy resins as described in U.S. 62/148,209 (Qiu et al., filed 16 Apr. 2015), thiol-alkene-epoxy resins as described in U.S. 62/148,212 (Qui et al. filed 16 Apr. 2015); thiol-alkene resins as described in U.S. 62/080,488 (Qui et al., filed 17 Nov. 2014), and thiol silicones as described in WO 2015/138174 (Qiu et al., published 17 Sep. 2015).

In some preferred embodiments the polymeric binder is a radiation curable oligomer having the general formula R^(Olig)-(L¹-Z¹)_(d), wherein R^(Olig) groups include urethanes, polyurethanes, esters, polyesters, polyethers, polyolefins, polybutadienes and epoxies; L¹ is a linking group; Z¹ is a pendent, free-radically polymerizable group such as (meth)acryloyl, vinyl or alkynyl and is preferably a (meth)acrylate, and d is greater than 1, preferably at least 2.

The linking group L¹ between the oligomer segment and ethylenically unsaturated end group includes a divalent or higher valency group selected from an alkylene, arylene, heteroalkylene, or combinations thereof and an optional divalent group selected from carbonyl, ester, amide, sulfonamide, or combinations thereof. L¹ can be unsubstituted or substituted with an alkyl, aryl, halo, or combinations thereof. The L¹ group typically has no more than 30 carbon atoms. In some compounds, the L¹ group has no more than 20 carbon atoms, no more than 10 carbon atoms, no more than 6 carbon atoms, or no more than 4 carbon atoms. For example, L¹ can be an alkylene, an alkylene substituted with an aryl group, or an alkylene in combination with an arylene or an alkyl ether or alkyl thioether linking group.

The pendent, free radically polymerizable functional groups Z¹ may be selected from the group consisting of vinyl, vinyl ether, ethynyl, and (meth)acyroyl which includes acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide and methacrylamide groups.

The oligomeric group R^(olig) may be selected from poly(meth)acrylate, polyurethane, polyepoxide, polyester, polyether, polysulfide, polybutadiene, hydrogenated polyolefins (including hydrogenated polybutadienes, isoprenes and ethylene/propylene copolymers, and polycarbonate oligomeric chains.

As used herein, “(meth)acrylated oligomer” means a polymer molecule having at least two pendent (meth)acryloyl groups and a weight average molecular weight (Mw) as determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography of at least 1,000 g/mole and typically less than 50,000 g/mole.

(Meth)acryloyl epoxy oligomers are multifunctional (meth)acrylate esters and amides of epoxy resins, such as the (meth)acrylated esters of bisphenol-A epoxy resin. Examples of commercially available (meth)acrylated epoxies include those known by the trade designations EBECRYL 600 (bisphenol A epoxy diacrylate of 525 molecular weight), EBECRYL 605 (EBECRYL 600 with 25% tripropylene glycol diacrylate), EBECRYL 3700 (bisphenol-A diacrylate of 524 molecular weight) and EBECRYL 3720H (bisphenol A diacrylate of 524 molecular weight with 20% hexanediol diacrylate) available from Cytec Industries, Inc., Woodland Park, N.J.; and PHOTOMER 3016 (bisphenol A epoxy acrylate), PHOTOMER 3016-40R (epoxy acrylate and 40% tripropylene glycol diacrylate blend), and PHOTOMER 3072 (modified bisphenol A acrylate, etc.) available from BASF Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Ebecryl 3708 (modified bisphenol A epoxy diacrylate) available from Cytec Industries, Inc., Woodland Park, N.J.

(Meth)acrylated urethanes are multifunctional (meth)acrylate esters of hydroxy terminated isocyanate extended polyols, polyesters or polyethers. (Meth)acrylated urethane oligomers can be synthesized, for example, by reacting a diisocyanate or other polyvalent isocyanate compound with a polyvalent polyol (including polyether and polyester polyols) to yield an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer. A polyester polyol can be formed by reacting a polybasic acid (e.g., terephthalic acid or maleic acid) with a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., ethylene glycol or 1,6-hexanediol). A polyether polyol useful for making the acrylate functionalized urethane oligomer can be chosen from, for example, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, poly(tetrahydrofuran), poly(2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran), poly(3-methyl-tetrahydrofuran) and the like. Alternatively, the polyol linkage of an acrylated urethane oligomer can be a polycarbonate polyol.

Subsequently, (meth)acrylates having a hydroxyl group can then be reacted with the terminal isocyanate groups of the prepolymer. Both aromatic and the preferred aliphatic isocyanates can be used to react with the urethane to obtain the oligomer. Examples of diisocyanates useful for making the (meth)acrylated oligomers are 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 1,3-xylylene diisocyanate, 1,4-xylylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexane diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and the like. Examples of hydroxy terminated acrylates useful for making the acrylated oligomers include, but are not limited to, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, α-hydroxybutyl acrylate, polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate and the like.

A (meth)acrylated urethane oligomer can be, for example, any urethane oligomer having at least two acrylate functionalities and generally less than about six functionalities. Suitable (meth)acrylated urethane oligomers are also commercially available such as, for example, those known by the trade designations PHOTOMER 6008, 6019, 6184 (aliphatic urethane triacrylates) available from Henkel Corp.; EBECRYL 220 (hexafunctional aromatic urethane acrylate of 1000 molecular weight), EBECRYL 284 (aliphatic urethane diacrylate of 1200 molecular weight diluted with 12% of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate), EBECRYL 4830 (aliphatic urethane diacrylate of 1200 molecular weight diluted with 10% of tetraethylene glycol diacrylate), and EBECRYL 6602 (trifunctional aromatic urethane acrylate of 1300 molecular weight diluted with 40% of trimethylolpropane ethoxy triacrylate), available from UCB Chemical; and SARTOMER CN1963, 963E75, 945A60, 963B80, 968, and 983) available from Sartomer Co., Exton, Pa.

Properties of these materials may be varied depending upon selection of the type of isocyanate, the type of polyol modifier, the reactive functionality and molecular weight. Diisocyanates are widely used in urethane acrylate synthesis and can be divided into aromatic and aliphatic diisocyanates. Aromatic diisocyanates are used for manufacture of aromatic urethane acrylates which have significantly lower cost than aliphatic urethane acrylates but tend to noticeably yellow on white or light colored substrates. Aliphatic urethane acrylates include aliphatic diisocyanates that exhibit slightly more flexibility than aromatic urethane acrylates that include the same functionality, a similar polyol modifier and at similar molecular weight.

The curable composition may comprise a functionalized poly(meth)acrylate oligomer, which may be obtained from the reaction product of: (a) from 50 to 99 parts by weight of (meth)acrylate ester monomer units that are homo- or co-polymerizable to a polymer (b) from 1 to 50 parts by weight of monomer units having a pendent, free-radically polymerizable functional group. Examples of such materials are available from Lucite International (Cordova, Tenn.) under the trade designations of Elvacite 1010, Elvacite 4026, and Elvacite 4059.

The (meth)acrylated poly(meth)acrylate oligomer may comprise a blend of an acrylic or hydrocarbon polymer with multifunctional (meth)acrylate diluents. Suitable polymer/diluent blends include, for example, commercially available products such as EBECRYL 303, 745 and 1710 all of which are available from Cytec Industries, Inc., Woodland Park, N.J.

The curable composition may comprise a (meth)acrylated polybutadiene oligomer, which may be obtained from a carboxyl- or hydroxyl-functionalized polybutadiene. By carboxyl or hydroxy functionalized polybutadiene is meant to designate a polybutadiene comprising free —OH or —COOH groups. Carboxyl functionalized polybutadienes are known, they have for example been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,208 (Nakamuta et al.) and are commercially available under the trade name of Nisso PB C-1000 (Nisso America, New York, N.Y.). Carboxyl functionalized polybutadienes can also be obtained by the reaction of a hydroxyl functionalized polybutadiene (that is a polybutadiene having free hydroxyl groups) with a cyclic anhydride such as for example has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,433 (Boeckeler), U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,434 (Klinger) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,835 (Mirle).

Carboxyl and hydroxyl functionalized polybutadienes suitable for being used in the process according to the present invention contain besides the carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups, units derived from the polymerization of butadiene. The polybutadiene (PDB) generally comprises 1-4 cis units/1-4 trans units/1-2 units in a ratio a/b/c where a, b and c range from 0 to 1 with a+b+c=1. The number average molecular weight (M_(n)) of the functionalized polybutadiene is preferably from 200 to 10000 Da. The M_(n) is more preferably at least 1000. The M_(n) more preferably does not exceed 5000 Da. The —COOH or —OH functionality is generally from 1.5 to 9, preferably from 1.8 to 6.

Exemplary hydroxyl and carboxyl polybutadienes include without limitation Poly BD R-20LM (hydroxyl functionalized PDB, a=0.2, b=0.6, c=0.2, M_(n) 1230) and Poly BD R45-HT (hydroxyl functionalized PDB, a=0.2, b=0.6, c=0.2, M_(n) 2800) commercialized by Atofina, Nisso-PB G-1000 (hydroxyl functionalized PDB, a=0, b<0.15, c>0.85, M_(n) 1250-1650), Nisso-PB G-2000 (hydroxyl functionalized PDB, a=0, b<0.15, c>0.85, M_(n) 1800-2200), Nisso-PB G-3000 (hydroxyl functionalized PDB, a=0, b<0.10, c>0.90, M_(n) 2600-3200), Nisso-PB C-1000 (carboxyl functionalized PDB, a=0, b<0.15, c>0.85, M_(n) 1200-1550) obtainable from Nisso America, New York, N.Y.

When carboxyl functionalized polybutadienes obtained from the reaction of a hydroxyl functionalized polybutadiene with a cyclic anhydride are used, this cyclic anhydride preferably include phthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, glutaric anhydride, succinic anhydride, dodecenylsuccinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride, pyromellitic anhydride. Mixtures of anhydrides can also be used. The amount of anhydride used for the preparation of a carboxyl functionalized polybutadiene from a hydroxyl functionalized polybutadiene is generally at least 0.8 molar, preferably at least 0.9 molar and more preferably at least 0.95 molar equivalent per molar equivalents of —OH groups present in the polybutadiene.

A (meth)acrylated polybutadiene oligomer, which is the reaction product of a carboxyl functionalized polybutadiene, may be prepared with a (meth)acrylated monoepoxide. (Meth)acrylated mono-epoxides are known. Examples of (meth)acrylated mono-epoxides that can be used are glycidyl (meth)acrylate esters, such as glycidylacrylate, glycidylmethacrylate, 4-hydroxybutylacrylate glycidylether, bisphenol-A diglycidylether monoacrylate. The (meth)acrylated mono-epoxides are preferably chosen from glycidylacrylate and glycidylmethacrylate. Alternatively, a (meth)acrylated polybutadiene oligomer which is the reaction product of a hydroxyl functionalized polybutadiene may be prepared with a (meth)acrylate ester, or halide.

Some (meth)acrylated polybutadienes that can be used, for example, include Ricacryl 3100 and Ricacryl 3500, manufactured by Sartomer Company, Exton, Pa., USA, and Nisso TE-2000 available from Nisso America, New York, N.Y. Alternatively, other methacrylated polybutadienes can be used. These include dimethacrylates of liquid polybutadiene resins composed of modified, esterified liquid polybutadiene diols. These are available under the tradename CN301 and CN303, and CN307, manufactured by Sartomer Company, Exton, Pa., USA. Regardless which methacrylated polybutadiene is used with embodiments of the invention, the methacrylated polybutadiene can include a number of methacrylate groups per chain from about 2 to about 20.

Alternatively, the acrylate functionalized oligomers can be polyester acrylate oligomers, acrylated acrylic oligomers, acrylated epoxy oligomers, polycarbonate acrylate oligomers or polyether acrylate oligomers. Useful epoxy acrylate oligomers include CN2003B from Sartomer Co. (Exton, Pa.). Useful polyester acrylate oligomers include CN293, CN294, and CN2250, 2281, 2900 from Sartomer Co. (Exton, Pa.) and EBECRYL 80, 657, 830, and 1810 from UCB Chemicals (Smyrna, Ga.). Suitable polyether acrylate oligomers include CN501, 502, and 551 from Sartomer Co. (Exton, Pa.). Useful polycarbonate acrylate oligomers can be prepared according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,958 (Sartomer Technology Company Inc., Wilmington, Del.).

In each embodiment comprising a (meth)acrylated oligomer, the curable binder composition optionally, yet preferably, comprises diluent monomer in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the curable composition such that it may be coated on a substrate. In some embodiments, the composition may comprise up to about 70 wt-% diluent monomers to reduce the viscosity of the oligomeric component to less than 10000 centipoise and to improve the processability.

Useful monomers are desirably soluble or miscible in the (meth)acrylated oligomer, highly polymerizable therewith. Useful diluents are mono- and polyethylenically unsaturated monomers such as (meth)acrylates or (meth)acrylamides. Suitable monomers typically have a number average molecular weight no greater than 450 g/mole. The diluent monomer desirably has minimal absorbance at the wavelength of the radiation used to cure the composition. Such diluent monomers may include, for example, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, 2-ethyl-hexylacrylate, isooctylacrylate, caprolactoneacrylate, isodecylacrylate, tridecylacrylate, laurylmethacrylate, methoxy-polyethylenglycol-monomethacrylate, laurylacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl-acrylate, ethoxy-ethoxyethyl acrylate and ethoxylated-nonylacrylate. Especially preferred are 2-ethyl-hexylacrylate, ethoxy-ethoxyethyl acrylate, tridecylacrylate and ethoxylated nonylacrylate. High T_(g) monomers having one ethylenically unsaturated group and a glass transition temperature of the corresponding homopolymer of 50° C. or more which are suitable in the present invention, include, for example, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl caprolactam, isobornyl acrylate, acryloylmorpholine, isobornylmethacrylate, phenoxyethylacrylate, phenoxyethylmethacrylate, methylmethacrylate and acrylamide.

Furthermore, the diluent monomers may contain an average of two or more free-radically polymerizable groups. A diluent having three or more of such reactive groups can be present as well. Examples of such monomers include: C₂-C₁₈ alkylenedioldi(meth)acrylates, C₃-C₁₈ alkylenetrioltri(meth)acrylates, the polyether analogues thereof, and the like, such as 1,6-hexanedioldi(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropanetri(meth)acrylate, triethyleneglycoldi(meth)acrylate, pentaeritritoltri(meth)acrylate, and tripropyleneglycol di(meth)acrylate, and di-trimethylolpropane tetraacrylate.

Suitable preferred diluent monomers include for example benzyl (meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate; phenoxy-2-methylethyl (meth)acrylate; phenoxyethoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 1-naphthyloxy ethyl acrylate; 2-naphthyloxy ethyl acrylate; phenoxy 2-methylethyl acrylate; phenoxyethoxyethyl acrylate; 2-phenylphenoxy ethyl acrylate; 4-phenylphenoxy ethyl acrylate; and phenyl acrylate.

Preferred diluent monomers includes phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, and tricyclodecane dimethanol diacrylate. Phenoxyethyl acrylate is commercially available from Sartomer under the trade designation “SR339”; from Eternal Chemical Co. Ltd. under the trade designation “Etermer 210”; and from Toagosei Co. Ltd under the trade designation “TO-1166”. Benzyl acrylate is commercially available from Osaka Organic Chemical, Osaka City, Japan. Tricyclodecane dimethanol diacrylate is commercially available from Sartomer under the trade designation “SR833-S”.

Such optional monomer(s) may be present in the polymerizable composition in amount of at least about 5 wt-%. The optional monomer(s) typically total no more than about 70 wt-% of the curable composition. The some embodiments the total amount of diluent monomer ranges from about 10 wt-% to about 50-%.

When using a free-radically curable polymeric binder, the curable composition further comprises photoinitiators, in an amount between the range of about 0.1% and about 5% by weight.

Useful photoinitiators include those known as useful for photocuring free-radically polyfunctional (meth)acrylates. Exemplary photoinitiators include benzoin and its derivatives such as alpha-methylbenzoin; alpha-phenylbenzoin; alpha-allylbenzoin; alpha-benzylbenzoin; benzoin ethers such as benzil dimethyl ketal (e.g., “IRGACURE 651” from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.), benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin n-butyl ether; acetophenone and its derivatives such as 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanone (e.g., “IRGACURE 1173” from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.) and 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (e.g., “IRGACURE 184” from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.); 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-(4-morpholinyl)-1-propanone (e.g., “IRGACURE 907” from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.); 2-benzyl-2-(dimethylamino)-1-[4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-1-butanone (e.g., “IRGACURE 369” from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.) and phosphine oxide derivatives such as ethyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphenylphoshinate (e.g. “TPO-L” from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.), and IRGACURE 819 (phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide) available from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.

Other useful photoinitiators include, for example, pivaloin ethyl ether, anisoin ethyl ether, anthraquinones (e.g., anthraquinone, 2-ethylanthraquinone, 1-chloroanthraquinone, 1,4-dimethylanthraquinone, 1-methoxyanthraquinone, or benzanthraquinone), halomethyltriazines, benzophenone and its derivatives, iodonium salts and sulfonium salts, titanium complexes such as bis(eta₅-2,4-cyclopentadien-1-yl)-bis[2,6-difluoro-3-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl) phenyl]titanium (e.g., “IRGACURE 784” from BASF, Florham Park, N.J.); halomethyl-nitrobenzenes (e.g., 4-bromomethylnitrobenzene), mono- and bis-acylphosphines (e.g., “IRGACURE 1700”, “IRGACURE 1800”, “IRGACURE 1850”, and “IRGACURE 4265”).

In some embodiments, the polymeric binder is an epoxy compound that can be cured or polymerized by the processes that are those known to undergo cationic polymerization and include 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-cyclic ethers (also designated as 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-epoxides). Suitable epoxy binders can include, for example, those epoxy binders described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,460. In particular, cyclic ethers that are useful include the cycloaliphatic epoxies such as cyclohexene oxide, vinylcyclohexene oxide, vinylcyclohexene dioxide, and the CELLOXIDE series type of binders available from Daicel (U.S.A.) Inc., Fort Lee, N.J. or the SYNA-EPDXY series of epoxy resins from Synasia Inc., Metuchen, N.J., such as 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3,4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate, bis-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) adipate and 2-(3,4-epoxycylclohexyl-5,5-spiro-3,4-epoxy) cyclohexene-meta-dioxane; also included are the glycidyl ether type epoxy binders such as propylene oxide, epichlorohydrin, styrene oxide, glycidol, the EPON, EPONEX, and HELOXY series type of epoxy binders available from Resolution Performance Products, Houston, Tex., including the diglycidyl either of bisphenol A and chain extended versions of this material such as EPON 828, EPON 1001, EPON 1004, EPON 1007, EPON 1009 and EPON 2002 or their equivalent from other manufacturers, EPONEX 1510, the hydrogenated diglycidyl either of bisphenol A, HELOXY 67, diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butanediol, HELOXY™ 107, diglycidyl ether of cyclohexane dimethanol, or their equivalent from other manufacturers, dicyclopentadiene dioxide, epoxidized vegetable oils such as epoxidized linseed and soybean oils available as VIKOLOX and VIKOFLEX binders from Atofina, Philadelphia, Pa., epoxidized KRATON LIQUID POLYMERS, such as L-207 available from Kraton Polymers, Houston, Tex., epoxidized polybutadienes such as the POLY BD binders from Atofina, Philadelphia, Pa., 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, polyglycidyl ether of phenolformaldehyde, and for example DEN® epoxidized phenolic novolac binders such as DEN 431 and DEN 438 available from Dow Chemical Co., Midland Mich., epoxidized cresol novolac binders such as ARALDITE ECN 1299 available from Vantico AG, Basel, Switzerland, resorcinol diglycidyl ether, and epoxidized polystyrene/polybutadiene blends such as the Epofriendz binders such as EPOFRIEND A1010 available from Daicel USA Inc., Fort Lee, N.J., and resorcinol diglycidyl ether.

Higher molecular weight polyols include the polyethylene and polypropylene oxide polymers in the molecular weight (Mn) range of 200 to 20,000 such as the CARBOWAX polyethyleneoxide materials available from Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., caprolactone polyols in the molecular weight range of 200 to 5,000 such as the TONE polyol materials available from Dow, polytetramethylene ether glycol in the molecular weight range of 200 to 4,000, such as the TERATHANE materials available from DuPont and POLYTHF 250 from BASF, polyethylene glycol, such as PEG™ 200 available from Dow, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene binders such as the POLY BD materials available from Atofina, Philadelphia, Pa., phenoxy binders such as those commercially available from Phenoxy Associates, Rock Hill, S.C., or equivalent materials supplied by other manufacturers.

It is also within the scope of this invention to include one or more epoxy binders which can be blended together. It is also within the scope of this invention to include one or more mono or poly-alcohols which can be blended together. The different kinds of binders and alcohols can be present in any proportion.

It is within the scope of this invention to use vinyl ether monomers as the cationically curable material. Vinyl ether-containing monomers can be methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, tert-butyl vinyl ether, isobutyl vinyl ether, triethyleneglycol divinyl ether (RAPT-CURE DVE-3, available from International Specialty Products, Wayne, N.J.), 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol divinyl ether (RAPI-CURE CHVE, International Specialty Products), trimetylolpropane trivinyl ether (available from BASF Corp., Mount Olive, N.J.) and the VECTOMER divinyl ether binders from Morflex, Greensboro, N.C., such as VECTOMER 2010, VECTOMER 2020, VECTOMER 4010, and VECTOMER 4020, or their equivalent from other manufacturers. It is within the scope of this invention to use a blend of more than one vinyl ether binder.

It is also within the scope of this invention to use one or more epoxy binders blended with one or more vinyl ether binders. The different kinds of binders can be present in any proportion.

The preferred epoxy binders include the CELLOXIDE or SYNA-EPDXY type of binders especially 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3,4-epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate, bis-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) adipate and 2-(3,4-epoxycylclohexyl-5,5-spiro-3,4-epoxy) cyclohexene-meta-dioxane and the bisphenol A EPON type binders including 2,2-bis-p-(2,3-epoxypropoxy) phenylpropane and chain extended versions of this material and, binders of the type EPONEX 1510 and HELOXY 107 and 68. Also useful in the present invention are purified versions of these epoxies as described in U. S. Published Patent Application 2002/0022709 published 21 Feb. 2002.

When preparing compositions containing epoxy monomers, hydroxy-functional materials can be added. The hydroxyl-functional component can be present as a mixture or a blend of materials and can contain mono- and polyhydroxyl containing materials. Preferably, the hydroxy-functional material is at least a diol. When used, the hydroxyl-functional material can aid in chain extension and in preventing excess crosslinking of the epoxy during curing, e. g., increasing the toughness of the cured composition.

When present, useful hydroxyl-functional materials include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or alkanol-substituted arene mono- or poly-alcohols having from about 2 to about 18 carbon atoms and two to five, preferably two to four hydroxy groups, or combinations thereof. Useful mono-alcohols can include methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 1-pentanol, neopentyl alcohol, 3-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol, 2-phenoxyethanol, cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol, cyclohexylmethanol, 3-cyclohexyl-1-propanol, 2-norbornanemethanol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.

Polyols useful in the present invention include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or alkanol-substituted arene polyols, or mixtures thereof having from about 2 to about 18 carbon atoms and two to five, preferably two to four hydroxyl groups. Examples of useful polyols include 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-1,6-hexanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, neopentyl glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol, quinitol, mannitol, sorbitol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, glycerine, 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-pentanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,4-benzene-dimethanol and polyalkoxylated bisphenol A derivatives. Other examples of useful polyols are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,211.

Bi-functional monomers having both cationically polymerizable and free-radically polymerizable moieties in the same monomer are useful in the present invention, such as, for example, glycidyl methacrylate, or 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate.

It is also within the scope of this invention to add a free radically polymerizable monomer, such as an acrylate or methacrylate. The addition of such a monomer broadens the scope of obtainable physical properties and processing options. When two or more polymerizable monomers are present, they can be present in any proportion.

Suitable cationic photoinitiators are selected from organic onium cations, for example those described in photoinitiators for Free Radical Cationic & Anionic Photopolymerization, 2^(nd) Edition, J. V. Crivello & K. Dietliker, John Wiley and Sons, 1998, pp. 275 to 298, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,250,311, 3,708,296, 4,069,055, 4,216,288, 5,084,586 and 5,124,417 and such descriptions incorporated herein by reference, including aliphatic or aromatic Group IVA-VIIA (CAS version) centered onium salts, preferably I-, S-, P- and C-centered onium salts, such as those selected from sulfoxonium, diaryliodonium, triarylsulfonium, carbonium and phosphonium, and most preferably I-, and S-centered onium salts, such as those selected from sulfoxonium, diaryliodonium, and triarylsulfonium, wherein “aryl” means an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic moiety having up to four independently selected substituents.

In some embodiments, the polymeric binder is a thermally curable epoxy-amine composition optionally further comprising a radiation-curable acrylate as described in Applicant's copending WO 2015095296 (Eckert et al.); Thiol-epoxy resins as described in U.S. 62/148,209 (Qiu et al., filed 16 Apr. 2015), thiol-alkene-epoxy resins as described in U.S. 62/148,212 (Qui et al. filed 16 Apr. 2015); thiol-alkene resins as described in U.S. 62/080,488 (Qui et al., filed 17 Nov. 2014), and thiol silicones as described in WO 2015/138174 (Qiu et al., published 17 Sep. 2015).

The quantum dot layer can have any useful amount of quantum dots, and in some embodiments the quantum dot layer can include from 0.1 to 10 wt %, preferably 0.1 to 1 wt %, quantum dots, based on the total weight of the quantum dot layer (dots, optional liquid carrier and polymeric binder). The dispersion composition can also contain a surfactant (i.e., leveling agent), a polymerization initiator, and other additives, as known in the art.

Generally, the stabilized quantum dots, the stabilizing agent, the polymeric binder and optional carrier fluid are combined and subject to high shear mixing to produce a dispersion of the ligand functional quantum dots in the polymer matrix. The matrix is chosen such there is limited compatibility and the quantum dots form a separate, non-aggregating phase in the matrix. As the quantum dots are often prepared and ligand-functionalized in an organic solvent, are dispersed in the binder resin, is then coated and cured either thermally, free-radically, or both to lock in the dispersed structure and exclude oxygen and water from the dispersed quantum dots.

The curable composition may be irradiated with activating UV or visible radiation to polymerize the components preferably in the wavelengths of 250 to 500 nanometers. UV light sources can be of two types: 1) relatively low light intensity sources such as blacklights that provide generally 10 mW/cm² or less (as measured in accordance with procedures approved by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology as, for example, with a UVIMAP™ UM 365 L-S radiometer manufactured by Electronic Instrumentation & Technology, Inc., in Sterling, Va.) over a wavelength range of 280 to 400 nanometers and 2) relatively high light intensity sources such as medium- and high-pressure mercury arc lamps, electrodeless mercury lamps, light emitting diodes, mercury-xenon lamps, lasers and the like, which provide intensities generally between 10 and 5000 mW/cm² in the wavelength rages of 320-390 nm (as measured in accordance with procedures approved by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology as, for example, with a PowerPuck™ radiometer manufactured by Electronic Instrumentation & Technology, Inc., in Sterling, Va.).

Referring to FIG. 1, quantum dot article 10 includes a first barrier layer 32, a second barrier layer 34, and a quantum dot layer 20 between the first barrier layer 32 and the second barrier layer 34. The quantum dot layer 20 includes a plurality of quantum dots 22 dispersed in a matrix 24.

The barrier layers 32, 34 can be formed of any useful material that can protect the quantum dots 22 from exposure to environmental contaminates such as, for example, oxygen, water, and water vapor. Suitable barrier layers 32, 34 include, but are not limited to, films of polymers, glass and dielectric materials. In some embodiments, suitable materials for the barrier layers 32, 34 include, for example, polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET); oxides such as silicon oxide, titanium oxide, or aluminum oxide (e.g., SiO₂, Si₂O₃, TiO₂, or Al₂O₃); and suitable combinations thereof.

More particularly, barrier films can be selected from a variety of constructions. Barrier films are typically selected such that they have oxygen and water transmission rates at a specified level as required by the application. In some embodiments, the barrier film has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) less than about 0.005 g/m²/day at 38° C. and 100% relative humidity; in some embodiments, less than about 0.0005 g/m²/day at 38° C. and 100% relative humidity; and in some embodiments, less than about 0.00005 g/m²/day at 38° C. and 100% relative humidity. In some embodiments, the flexible barrier film has a WVTR of less than about 0.05, 0.005, 0.0005, or 0.00005 g/m²/day at 50° C. and 100% relative humidity or even less than about 0.005, 0.0005, 0.00005 g/m²/day at 85° C. and 100% relative humidity. In some embodiments, the barrier film has an oxygen transmission rate of less than about 0.005 g/m²/day at 23° C. and 90% relative humidity; in some embodiments, less than about 0.0005 g/m²/day at 23° C. and 90% relative humidity; and in some embodiments, less than about 0.00005 g/m²/day at 23° C. and 90% relative humidity.

Exemplary useful barrier films include inorganic films prepared by atomic layer deposition, thermal evaporation, sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition. Useful barrier films are typically flexible and transparent. In some embodiments, useful barrier films comprise inorganic/organic. Flexible ultra-barrier films comprising inorganic/organic multilayers are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,713 (Padiyath et al.). Such flexible ultra-barrier films may have a first polymer layer disposed on polymeric film substrate that is overcoated with two or more inorganic barrier layers separated by at least one second polymer layer. In some embodiments, the barrier film comprises one inorganic barrier layer interposed between the first polymer layer disposed on the polymeric film substrate and a second polymer layer 224.

In some embodiments, each barrier layer 32, 34 of the quantum dot article 10 includes at least two sub-layers of different materials or compositions. In some embodiments, such a multi-layered barrier construction can more effectively reduce or eliminate pinhole defect alignment in the barrier layers 32, 34, providing a more effective shield against oxygen and moisture penetration into the matrix 24. The quantum dot article 10 can include any suitable material or combination of barrier materials and any suitable number of barrier layers or sub-layers on either or both sides of the quantum dot layer 20. The materials, thickness, and number of barrier layers and sub-layers will depend on the particular application, and will suitably be chosen to maximize barrier protection and brightness of the quantum dots 22 while minimizing the thickness of the quantum dot article 10. In some embodiments each barrier layer 32, 34 is itself a laminate film, such as a dual laminate film, where each barrier film layer is sufficiently thick to eliminate wrinkling in roll-to-roll or laminate manufacturing processes. In one illustrative embodiment, the barrier layers 32, 34 are polyester films (e.g., PET) having an oxide layer on an exposed surface thereof.

The quantum dot layer 20 can include one or more populations of quantum dots or quantum dot materials 22. Exemplary quantum dots or quantum dot materials 22 emit green light and red light upon down-conversion of blue primary light from a blue LED to secondary light emitted by the quantum dots. The respective portions of red, green, and blue light can be controlled to achieve a desired white point for the white light emitted by a display device incorporating the quantum dot article 10. Exemplary quantum dots 22 for use in the quantum dot articles 10 include, but are not limited to, InP or CdSe with ZnS shells. Suitable quantum dots for use in quantum dot articles described herein include, but are not limited to, core/shell luminescent nanocrystals including CdSe/ZnS, InP/ZnS, PbSe/PbS, CdSe/CdS, CdTe/CdS or CdTe/ZnS. In exemplary embodiments, the luminescent nanocrystals include an outer ligand coating and are dispersed in a polymeric matrix. Quantum dot and quantum dot materials 22 are commercially available from, for example, Nanosys Inc., Milpitas, Calif. The quantum dot layer 20 can have any useful amount of quantum dots 22, and in some embodiments the quantum dot layer 20 can include from 0.1 wt % to 1 wt % quantum dots, based on the total weight of the quantum dot layer 20.

In one or more embodiments the quantum dot layer 20 can optionally include scattering beads or particles. These scattering beads or particles have a refractive index that differs from the refractive index of the matrix material 24 by at least 0.05, or by at least 0.1. These scattering beads or particles can include, for example, polymers such as silicone, acrylic, nylon, and the like, or inorganic materials such as TiO₂, SiO_(x), AlO_(x), and the like, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, including scattering particles in the quantum dot layer 20 can increase the optical path length through the quantum dot layer 20 and improve quantum dot absorption and efficiency. In many embodiments, the scattering beads or particles have an average particle size from 1 to 10 micrometers, or from 2 to 6 micrometers. In some embodiments, the quantum dot material 20 can optionally include fillers such fumed silica.

In some preferred embodiments, the scattering beads or particles are Tospearl™ 120A, 130A, 145A and 2000B spherical silicone resins available in 2.0, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 micron particle sizes respectively from Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc., Columbus, Ohio.

The matrix 24 of the quantum dot layer 20 can be formed from a polymeric binder or binder precursor that adheres to the materials forming the barrier layers 32, 34 to form a laminate construction, and also forms a protective matrix for the quantum dots 22. In one embodiment, the matrix 24 is formed by curing or hardening an adhesive composition including an epoxy amine polymer and an optional radiation-curable methacrylate compound.

Referring to FIG. 2, in another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of forming a quantum dot film article 100 including coating an adhesive composition including quantum dots on a first barrier layer 102 and disposing a second barrier layer on the quantum dot material 104. In some embodiments, the method 100 includes polymerizing (e.g., radiation curing) the radiation curable polymeric binder to form a fully- or partially cured quantum dot material 106 and optionally thermally polymerizing the binder composition to form a cured polymeric binder 108. For thermally curable polymeric binders, step 106 is omitted.

In some embodiments, the binder composition can be cured or hardened by heating. In other embodiments, the adhesive composition may also be cured or hardened by applying radiation such as, for example, ultraviolet (UV) light. Curing or hardening steps may include UV curing, heating, or both. In some example embodiments that are not intended to be limiting, UV cure conditions can include applying about 10 mJ/cm² to about 4000 mJ/cm² of UVA, more preferably about 10mJ/cm² to about 200 mJ/cm² of UVA. Heating and UV light may also be applied alone or in combination to increase the viscosity of the binder composition, which can allow easier handling on coating and processing lines.

In some embodiments, the binder composition may be cured after lamination between the overlying barrier films 32, 34. Thus, the increase in viscosity of the binder composition locks in the coating quality right after lamination. By curing right after coating or laminating, in some embodiments the cured binder increases in viscosity to a point that the binder composition acts as a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) to hold the laminate together during the cure and greatly reduces defects during the cure. In some embodiments, the radiation cure of the binder provides greater control over coating, curing and web handling as compared to traditional thermal curing.

Once at least partially cured, the binder composition forms polymer network that provides a protective supporting matrix 24 for the quantum dots 22.

Ingress, including edge ingress, is defined by a loss in quantum dot performance due to ingress of moisture and/or oxygen into the matrix 24. In various embodiments, the edge ingress of moisture and oxygen into the cured matrix 24 is less than about 1.25 mm after 1 week at 85° C., or about less than 0.75 mm after 1 week at 85° C., or less than about 0.5 mm after 1 week at 85° C. In various embodiments, oxygen permeation into the cured matrix is less than about 80 (cc·mil)/(m² day), or less than about 50 (cc·mil)/(m² day). In various embodiments, the water vapor transmission rate of the cured matrix should be less than about 15 (20 g/m²·mil·day), or less than about 10 (20 g/m²·mil·day).

In various embodiments, the thickness of the quantum dot layer 20 is about 80 microns to about 250 microns.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a display device 200 including the quantum dot articles described herein. This illustration is merely provided as an example and is not intended to be limiting. The display device 200 includes a backlight 202 with a light source 204 such as, for example, a light emitting diode (LED). The light source 204 emits light along an emission axis 235. The light source 204 (for example, a LED light source) emits light through an input edge 208 into a hollow light recycling cavity 210 having a back reflector 212 thereon. The back reflector 212 can be predominately specular, diffuse or a combination thereof, and is preferably highly reflective. The backlight 202 further includes a quantum dot article 220, which includes a protective matrix 224 having dispersed therein quantum dots 222. The protective matrix 224 is bounded on both surfaces by polymeric barrier films 226, 228, which may include a single layer or multiple layers.

The display device 200 further includes a front reflector 230 that includes multiple directional recycling films or layers, which are optical films with a surface structure that redirects off-axis light in a direction closer to the axis of the display, which can increase the amount of light propagating on-axis through the display device, this increasing the brightness and contrast of the image seen by a viewer. The front reflector 230 can also include other types of optical films such as polarizers. In one non-limiting example, the front reflector 230 can include one or more prismatic films 232 and/or gain diffusers. The prismatic films 232 may have prisms elongated along an axis, which may be oriented parallel or perpendicular to an emission axis 235 of the light source 204. In some embodiments, the prism axes of the prismatic films may be crossed. The front reflector 230 may further include one or more polarizing films 234, which may include multilayer optical polarizing films, diffusely reflecting polarizing films, and the like. The light emitted by the front reflector 230 enters a liquid crystal (LC) panel 280. Numerous examples of backlighting structures and films may be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,848,132 (O'Neill et al.).

EXAMPLES

The following materials were obtained from commercial sources and used as received:

Materials Abbre- viation or Trade CAS #/ Name Product Code Description DPPS 40538-11-2/ 4-(Diphenylphosphino)styrene, 708127 available from Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., St. Louis, Missouri. D3 541-05-9/ Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, 235687 available from Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., St. Louis, Missouri. Sec-BuLi 598-30-1/ Sec-butyllithium, 1.4M in 195596 cyclohexane, available from Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., St. Louis, Missouri. PDMS 9016-00-6/ Dimethylpolysiloxane, Mw DMPS1C ~5970, viscosity 90-100 cSt at 25° C., available from Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., St. Louis, Missouri. 4-VBC 1592-20-7/ 4-vinylbenzylchloride, 90%, 436887 available from Aldrich Co. LLC., St. Louis, Missouri. Toluene 108-88-3/ Available from Sigma-Aldrich (anhydrous) 244511 Co. LLC., St. Louis, Missouri SATS NA/DMS-Z21 Succinic anhydride-terminated silicone, available from Gelest, Morrisville, Pennsylvania InP/Green/ 354-9B Quantum dots available from DDSA/Toluene Nanosys, Milpitas, California. Lot 354-9B. Used for PDPPS homopolymer experiments. InP/Green/ 374-121F Quantum dots available from DDSA/Toluene Nanosys, Milpitas, California. Lot 374-121F. Used for PDPPS- PDMS experiments. General Considerations:

Polymer synthesis and quantum dot solution preparations were conducted in a MBraun Labmaster SP glovebox under Ar atmosphere. Standard inert atmosphere, air-free techniques were used for both anionic polymerization, quantum dot manipulation, and quantum dot solution compounding. Toluene was purified by passage through activated alumina columns under Ar. D3 was dried by melting and stirring over calcium hydride under inert atmosphere for at least 24 hours, after which time dry monomer was obtained by vacuum transferring D3 into a clean, dry receiving flask. 4VBC was prepared by degassing through freeze-pump-thaw cycles followed by stirring over calcium hydride for at least 48 hours, after which time dry monomer was distilled into a clean, dry receiving flask.

Quantum Yield Measurements:

Fluorescence cells were from NSG Precision Cells, model 63-ES10.

Quantum yield measurements were made on a Hamamatsu Absolute PL Quantum Yield Spectrometer C11347. An excitation wavelength of 440 nm was used for all measurements. A built in program was used to analyze the emission spectra to calculate the desired spectral quantities. A built in correction program was used to correct the emission spectra for self-absorption to give corrected quantum yields. The peak position was determined for the peak maximum in the corrected spectra curve.

A Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrometer was used to check the absorption of each sample after the emission measurements were made to insure that the samples were well behaved.

Example 1 (Ex-1): Synthesis of Poly[(Diphenylphosphino)Styrene] (PDPPS)

Under an inert atmosphere, DPPS (3.1 g) was added to a 100 mL Schlenk bomb with 30 mL dry toluene. While stirring vigorously, sec-BuLi (0.6 mL, 1.4 M in cyclohexane) was rapidly injected, causing an immediate color change from colorless to cherry-red. The bomb was sealed and the reaction stirred at room temperature overnight. After ˜16 hours, degassed methanol was added to terminate the reaction, resulting in an immediate bleaching of the polymerization. Benzene was then removed under reduced pressure and the resulting pale yellow solid redissolved in 15 mL THF. Polymer (2.92 g) was isolated by precipitation from methanol followed by filtration and drying. NMR indicated complete consumption of DPPS vinylic resonances and the presence of new, broad peaks in ¹H-NMR spectra. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): 7.18 (d, br., 12H), 6.80−6.17 (m, br., 2H), 2.38−1.17 (m, br., 3H). ³¹P{¹H}-NMR (CDCl₃): −6.60 (s, br.).

Example 2 (Ex-2): Synthesis of Vinyl-Terminated Poly[(Diphenylphosphino)Styrene]

Prepared and isolated in a method analogous to that described in Ex-1. At the end of the polymerization period, 1.0 mL of 4-VBC was added under rapid stirring, resulting in a color change from cherry-red to pale yellow. Polymer was isolated as a white solid. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): 7.18 (d, br.), 6.80−6.17 (m, br.), 5.59 (d, br.), 5.13 (d, br.), 2.38−1.17 (m, br.). ³¹P{¹H}-NMR (CDCl₃): −6.61 (s, br.)

Example 3 (Ex-3): Quantum Yield Measurements of Quantum Dots in the Presence of PDPPS Homopolymer

Additives were dried under high vacuum on a Schlenk line at least 24 hours at 60° C. before use. Specified amounts of the additives, were weighed in 25 mL scintillation vials. The amounts used for the different samples are shown in Table 1. Comparative example 1 represents a control experiment in which no additive is used to stabilize a quantum dot solution other than “native” ligands. Comparative example 2 interrogates the effectiveness of the DPPS monomer to stabilize a quantum dot in addition to “native” ligands.

TABLE 1 Example, Additive Additive Amount (g) CE-1A, No additive 0 CE-1B, No additive 0 CE-1C, No additive 0 CE-2A, DPPS 0.0103 CE-2B, DPPS 0.0100 CE-2C, DPPS 0.0100 Ex-3A, PDPPS 0.0100 Ex-3B, PDPPS 0.0103 Ex-3C, PDPPS 0.0096

Toluene (10 mL) was then added via pipette to each vial along with a toluene blank. Vials were capped and agitated to dissolve the contents. Quantum dot solution (50 uL) was then added and each vial mixed manually again. Then 4 ml of each test solution was pipetted into a separate fluorescence cell. Each cell was sealed with a rubber septa and then all of the cells were removed from the glove box to make the quantum yield measurements followed by UV-Vis absorption measurements.

For the solution quantum yield measurements, each of the samples CE-1A, CE-1B, CE-2A, CE-2B, EX-3A, and EX-3B were measured three times in random order and combined with the single reading for samples CE-1C, CE-2C and EX-3C to provide and average values that are recorded in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Peak Wavelength Peak Measured from Wavelength Peak Quantum Quantaurus UV/Vis FWHM* Sample Yield (nm) (nm) (nm) CE-1: No additive 0.668 533 529 41.3 CE-2: DPPS 0.684 533 529 41.0 Ex-3: PDPPS 0.706 533 529 41.0 *FWHM = Full Width Half Maximum

Example 4 (Ex-4): Synthesis of Poly[Diphenylphosphino)Styrene-Block-(Dimethylsiloxane)] (PDPPS-PDMS)

DPPS (0.6 g) was added to a Schlenk bomb with stirbar and dissolved in 6 mL toluene. Sec-BuLi (0.30 mL, 1.4 M in cyclohexane) was then added while stirring rapidly, causing an immediate color change to cherry-red. The reaction was sealed and stirred overnight. After 18 hours had passed, D3 was added (0.15 g), causing a gradual color change from cherry red to light brown. After four hours, additional D3 (9.0 g) was added followed by 12 mL THF. The polymerization was sealed and stirred for an additional 36 hours. Trimethylsilylchloride (0.1 mL, neat) was then added under standard atmosphere, causing the pale brown solution to clarify to colorless. 9.45 g of a viscous, white, turbid oil (PDPPS-PDMS) was obtained after placing the crude reaction mixture under high vacuum. For this example, ¹H-NMR indicates ˜11 additions of D3 per DPPS monomer. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃): 7.18 (d, br., 12H), 6.80-6.17 (m, br., 2H), 2.38-1.17 (m, br., 3H), 0.067 (s, 198H). ³¹P{¹H}-NMR (CDCl₃): −6.60 (s, br.).

Preparation of Succinic Acid Terminated Silicone (SACS)

To a 500 mL round bottomed flask equipped with a stir bar was added 108.94 g of SATS followed by adding 6.7 g of distilled water and 78.43 g of toluene. The resulting suspension was stirred and refluxed under nitrogen atmosphere. Reflux was continued until the anhydride hydrolyzed to the corresponding acid (reaction monitored using a Nicolet iS-50 FT-IR). The suspension was cooled to room temperature, and to it was added four tablespoons of magnesium sulfate. The suspension was stirred to remove excess water. The suspension was then filtered through Whatmann filter paper, followed by removal of toluene using vacuum evaporation. 96.93 g of SACS was obtained as a light yellow colored viscous oil.

Example 5: Quantum Yield Measurements of Quantum Dots in the Presence of PDPPS-PDMS Copolymer

Preparation of Green InP Dot Composition with PDPPS-PMDS

To a 250 mL schlenk flask equipped with a stir bar was added 4 g of PDPPS-PDMS and 2 g of SACS. The flask was connected to a schlenk line and the oligomer was degassed under vacuum at on a water bath for 2 hours. In an inert atmosphere, 21.1 g of green InP/DDSA/Toluene was then added to the Schlenk flask. The flask was sealed and removed from the glove box. The flask was re-introduced to the schlenk line and toluene was evaporated under high vacuum. The flask was disconnected from schlenk line and taken inside the glove box. After releasing the vacuum inside the glove box, 1.7 g of PDMS was added, followed by rinsing the inside of the flask with anhydrous toluene. The flask was sealed properly inside the glove box, and taken out from the glove box. The flask was re-introduced to the Schlenk line and placed on a water bath. Toluene was evaporated under high vacuum while stirring the solution on a water bath for 1-2 hours. 9 g of dot concentrate was obtained after transferring the dot concentrate to a preweighed glass jar. The final optical density of the dot concentrate was around 27. Formulation is described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Sample Weight (g) PDDPS-PDMS 4.0 SACS 2.0 PDMS 1.7 Green InP/DDSA/Toluene 21.1 Quantum Yield Studies of Green InP Dot Composition with PDPPS-PDMS Polymer

A dilute quantum dot solution in 10 mL toluene was prepared by weighing or pipetting out desired amount of quantum dot concentrate in a 20 mL vial. Amount and identity of dot concentrate is listed below in Table 4. Then 4 ml of test solution was pipetted into a separate fluorescence cell. One cell containing toluene only was the blank. Each cell was sealed with a rubber septa and then all of the cells were removed from the glove box to make the quantum yield measurements. Quantum yield measurements are listed in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Measured Peak Quantum Wavelength FWHM Additive Yield (nm) (nm) Ex-5: 14.8 mg of Example 5 dot 0.76 542 43 concentrate (inventive) *FWHM = Full Width Half Maximum 

What is claimed is:
 1. A composite particle comprising a fluorescent core/shell nanoparticle and a stabilizing (co)polymer of the formula:

wherein each R¹ is a hydrocarbyl group including alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; each R³ is a hydrocarbyl group including alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; each R⁶ is H, a hydrocarbyl group or a functional group; R⁷ is a divalent hydrocarbyl group selected from alkylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene; R⁸ is the residue of an initiator, which may be functional or non-functional; Z is P, As or Sb; subscript a is 1 to 100; subscript b is 0 to
 100. 2. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein subscript b is 1-100.
 3. The composite particle of claim 1 further comprising a surface modifying ligand bound to the surface of the nanoparticle of the formula: R¹⁵—R¹²(X)_(n)  III wherein R¹⁵ is (hetero)hydrocarbyl group having C₂ to C₃₀ carbon atoms; R¹² is a hydrocarbyl group including alkylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene; n is at least one; X is a ligand group, including —CO₂H, —SO₃H, —P(O)(OH)₂, —OP(O)(OH), —OH and —NH₂.
 4. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the core comprises InP, CdS or CdSe.
 5. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the shell comprises a magnesium or zinc-containing compound.
 6. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the shell is a multilayered shell.
 7. The composite particle of claim 6 wherein the multilayered shell comprises an inner shell overcoating the core, wherein the inner shell comprises zinc selenide and zinc sulfide.
 8. The composite particle of claim 6 wherein the multilayered shell comprises an outer shell overcoating the inner shell, wherein the outer shell comprises zinc sulfide or MgS.
 9. A composition comprising the composite particle of claim 1 further comprising a secondary carrier fluid.
 10. A composition comprising the composite particle of claim 1 dispersed in droplets of the stabilizing (co)polymer and the optional secondary carrier fluid, said droplets dispersed in a polymeric binder.
 11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the polymeric binder comprises polysiloxanes, fluoroelastomers, polyamides, polyimides, polycaprolactones, polycaprolactams, polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides, epoxy resins and polymethacrylamides.
 12. An article comprising the composite particle of claim 1 dispersed in a cured polymeric binder between two barrier films.
 13. The article of claim 12 wherein the polymeric binder comprises polysiloxanes, fluoroelastomers, polyamides, polyimides, polycaprolactones, polycaprolactams, polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides, epoxy resins and polymethacrylamides.
 14. An article comprising the composite particle of claim 1 dispersed in an uncured polymeric binder between two barrier films.
 15. A composition comprising the composite particle of claim 1 further dispersed in an uncured polymeric binder. 